[Guide] Alternative method of adding skybox to maps (if no mapskydata)

[TBlazeWarriorT]

BIG EDIT: If your client supports it (~2022+), just use data\luafiles514\lua files\mapskydata. I found out about this a bit too late, but better late than never.

 

So, here's the basic concept of how to make RGB skyboxes that don't rely on hardcoded skyboxes. I don't see enough people talking about it, so I decided to bring the concept up, as I just did it for two of my custom maps.

You can have flat 3D models ~200 units under the main map with a texture, tiled to form a large square, and they'll effectively work as a customizable skybox, going alongside with "clouds2" (or "clouds") mapflag.

Pros:

• Can use any texture/color
• Can be animated (in theory)
• Customizable
• Can be used in any map
• Not hardcoded/doesn't need to replace any map or skybox

Cons:

• Horizontal camera angles might expose black edges
• Minor effort editing the map to add the new models

Tips:

• Works well with clouds2 mapflag
• greywolf/illusion water rsm models are a good base for this, if you don't know how to make a custom model. You will need to change the bottom square texture to be invisible (or the upper one to be opaque), and preferably hex the path to be a new texture so you don't have to replace their textures.
• Don't use Scale over 5 on the model size (e.g. in Browedit). The tiles will stop rendering properly in some angles if they're too big.
• Usually a 5x5 grid of 5 Scale models of retextured "ilusion" water at y=200 is enough and produces some of the best results. It's what was used on the images below:

I intentionally exposed a small black corner on the image to show it. 90% of the time or if you lock the camera, you can't see the black corners, though.

Edited April 7 by TBlazeWarriorT
important edit with info update